October Stars Quilt Pattern

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It’s almost October and I can’t get enough Orange & Black sewing!  I love traditional Halloween colors!  Meet October Stars, my newest quilt pattern!  It’s available in my Etsy shop and I love everything about this quilt!  october-stars-cover

The quilt is made up of 9 large star blocks.  The center fabric of each of the small black stars has kitty faces on it!

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Mufasa totally approves!!

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The quilt measures 58″ square which is such a great throw size.

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This would also be fun to make in Christmas colors as well!

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I hope you love it!

Mini Kitty Halloween Quilt Pattern

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It’s a little SPOOKY around here!  Mini Kitty is getting a Halloween makeover!  I love this little pattern so much and wanted to give it a little pop for the fall.  Mini Kitty is now leaping over a pumpkin with bats and stars in the background.  If you’ve already purchased the pattern you can download the Halloween applique shapes for free HERE.  The Halloween PDF is also included with each Mini Kitty pattern purchase in my Etsy shop.

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The original Mini Kitty pattern was created as a gift for a friend after the loss of a sweet kitten.  You can read more about it HEREimg_3688

Instead of using only 2 colors for the checkerboard border, I used 8 different oranges and 8 different blacks.  I really love the polka dot pumpkin!

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Mufasa was very helpful on this project and choose the colors all by himself 🙂

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I love how it turned out and I have the purrrrfect place to hang it!  img_3714

The Jolly Bar Book

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I’m thrilled to share with you my project from Fat Quarter Shop’s The Jolly Bar Book today!  This is such a fun book!  First of all it is the exact size of a Jolly Bar which is 5″ x 10″!  Jolly Bars come in your favorite fabric collections from Fat Quarter Shop and they are super fun to use!

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I choose Farmhouse by Fig Tree & Co for Moda.  The fabrics are to die for!  IMG_3130

I added a chicken wire print for my background yardage.  I love how it works with the Farmhouse fabrics!!  And how easy and fun is this pattern!!!!!  You can sew it in about an hour.IMG_3244

Sometimes sewing time is a little longer if Mufasa decides to nap on the cutting board!IMG_3139

LOVE!!!!IMG_3145

And Mufasa loves as well! IMG_3204

I had fun quilting this quilt!  I quilted 5-petal daisies and loops.IMG_3210

For the backing I used a random newsprint style fabric and chose a red fabric from the Farmhouse line for the binding.

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It’s got such a fun vintage feel to it.  I would totally make this pattern again and again and again!!DSC_0526

It’s amazing how big the quilt is with just one Jolly Bar and some yardage!  I love patterns like this!IMG_3220

IMG_3196  Check out these wonderful designers to see what patterns they sewed up from the Jolly Bar Book!!!

Melissa from Happy Quilting
Tina from Emily Ann’s Kloset
Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl
Connie from Free Motion by the River
Afton from Quilting Mod
Pam from Pam Kitty Morning
Heidi from Buttons and Butterflies
Renee from Sewn with Grace
Remona from The Stitching Scientist
Andy from A Bright Corner
Angie from Gnome Angel

All Hallow’s Eve Quilt

 halloweenIt’s feeling a little like fall and that means time to break out the fall decor!  I made this quilt last year and it’s one of my favorites!  I decorate my dining/living room with a more neutral pallet and I love using black and gray to decorate for Halloween.  The family room and kitchen are bright orange, black, and turquoise 🙂  I used a variety of neutrals and gray/blacks from Penny Rose Fabrics. You can download the details of the pattern HERE.

Quilt measures 42″ square.

spooky halloween quilt 30Most of the black/gray fabrics are from the Civil War Times fabric line. I love the variety! The rest of the fabrics are from Penny Rose Classics.Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 9.03.17 PMIMG_3614I love black and metallic pumpkins on vintage candlesticks!

spooky halloween quilt 22I first made the background by sewing 5″ squares together in 7 rows of 7. Then the applique comes next. You could totally add ghosts and bats, I wanted to keep it simple.

spooky halloween quilt 26The moon is made by tracing a pie plate.

spooky halloween quilt 28Here is a little close up of the quilting, with Mufasa’s permission 🙂 spooky halloween quilt 6I love striped binding cut on the bias – it’s my absolute FAVORITE!!!! The backing is from Penny Rose’s mensware line – I love houndstooth!!!Ok, so this is totally my new favorite Halloween Quilt!

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Alice’s Crossroads Quilt Pattern

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I’m super excited to announce my latest quilt pattern called Alice’s Crossroads which is inspired by Blend Fabrics’ Wonderland fabric line.

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One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. “Where do you want to go?” was his response. “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.”

I love this scene because we learn a lot about life from the Cheshire Cat’s answer and this totally inspired the quilt!  The quilt actually has several different paths and so it’s up to you to choose which way to go!  You can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop for instant PDF download 🙂

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I am always drawn to large theme prints. It’s hard finding patterns that let you use large cuts of fabric to showcase these prints. I love designing quilt patterns that let you do just that. This quilt would be fun to use with all different theme fabrics: character, sports, animal, etc. Get creative!!!

IMG_3410(1)The finished quilt measures 60″ x 72″ and each block is 12″.

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It’s really fun to sew together and I love getting to show off the amazing fabrics in this collection!
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I hope you like it and give it a try!!!IMG_3400
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Black and Orange Cat Quilt {Halloween Cats}

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I am so excited to share the finish of this quilt that has been in the works for the last year!

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I started it last summer, finished piecing the top this last spring, had it quilted in May and just finished the binding!  It is one of my all time FAVORITE quilts!!!!!

IMG_3444Each cat head is either black or orange print with the exception of the bottom right corner – it’s Mufasa!!!!

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I used Elizabeth Hartman’s cat head block pattern (here).  They are so much fun to sew!!

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Here you can see the fun geometric quilting that Nicole from Kwilt It quilted.  I LOVE it!  I also adore the gingham backing!!!

IMG_3434  Oh my gosh – it’s too cute!!!!!  100 cat heads!!!

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Snow Globe Jars Quilt Pattern

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Today I am releasing my latest quilt pattern called Snow Globe Jars! You can find it in my Etsy shop!  Have you ever made homemade snow globes out of mason jars?  That’s what inspired this little quilt!  I love fussy cutting and these jars are perfect for that.  I used Pixie Noel Fabric from Riley Blake Designs.  It was so fun to choose what little scene to put in each snow globe!

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Mufasa also loves snow globes 🙂

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This quilt measures approximately 39″ square which is the perfect size to hang on the wall, place on a table or flop over a couch!IMG_7373

Each of the snow globe blocks is sashed and set with red stars.IMG_7372

I hope you like this quilt as much as I do!  How fun would it be to give this as an early Christmas present to someone you really love!!

DSC_0969And one more picture of Mufasa just because he is so handsome and takes such great pictures!

Apple Picking Quilt Tutorial

 

apple coverToday is my turn on the Apple Farm blog hop with Elea Lutz and Penny Rose Fabrics!!!!!  I have always been a fan of Elea Lutz’s designs and I was thrilled to meet her in person at Quilt Market!  She is the cutest ever!  IMG_8213

I love Elea’s newest line called Apple Farm.  It has such a fun vintage feel!

Screen Shot 2016-08-18 at 10.02.05 PMI choose to work with the reds from this collection.  I have a vintage red and white quilt from my Great Grandmother and it was sort of the inspiration for my design.

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The quilt measures 37″ square and it’s perfect to throw over a couch, place on a table, or hang on a wall.

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Let’s get started!!

Supplies:

Fat quarters or quarter yard cuts of 2 red prints

3/4  yard solid white fabric

1/2 yard red swiss dot fabric

fat quarter red gingham

scraps of green and brown

1/2 yard plaid border print

1/3 yard binding

1 1/2 yard backing

Heat n Bond Lite

Sizzix HST die and apple die

The quilt block is made of of 3 parts:  The center block, the “economy block” and the half square triangle (HST)  block.  All seams are 1/4″

For the HST block…

You will need 48 HST consisting of solid white and the darker red print.  I used my 2 1/2″ HST Sizzix Die.  You can literally cut all the HST you need in 30 seconds!  If you don’t have access to this die, just make 48 HST that finish 2 1/2″ square.

I love the Sizzix die because the squares finish perfectly even and no trimming or squaring up!

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Mufasa was very helpful in the chain piecing!IMG_2866

Cut (16) 2 1/2″ squares out of solid white.

Lay the block out like this:

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Sew together as you would a 4-Patch.  It is helpful to press the seams open to reduce bulk.  You need 16 total of these blocks.

For the Economy Block….

Cut (16) 4 1/2″ squares from the lighter red print.

Cut (64) 2 1/2″ squares from the solid white.  Draw a diagonal line on the back of each white square.IMG_2877

Position a 2 1/2″ square in the corner of the 4 1/2″ red square.  Sew along the diagonal line.  Repeat this process for each of the 4 corners.  Trim 1/4″ along the seam, and press.   IMG_2884

For the centers…

Cut (4) 4 1/2″ squares of solid white.  Don’t applique the apple until the block is sewn because it will overlap slightly.

Lay out the block like this:IMG_2885

Sew together in rows.  Press seams open.  Make four of these blocks.

For the apple applique…

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Fuse Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the red gingham.  Position the gingham on the apple die diagonally.  Trim off the stem and the leaf.  Make four of these.  Repeat this process and die cut the leaf and the stem with the appropriate colors of fabric.

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Peel off the backing paper and position in the center of the block.  Heat set in place.  Sew around each piece twice with desired thread color.

For the sashing and borders…

Cut (2) 12 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ pieces for center sashing.

Cut (5) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for sashing and borders.  I didn’t measure the borders, just sew and cut off the excess.  Press toward the sashing.

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Cut (4) 4 1/2″ x WOF strips of the plaid.  Sew the sides, press, then the top and bottom, trimming off the extra each time.  Quilt as desired.IMG_2890

I love how this quilt turned out and I love the red & white feel of it without it being totally red and white!  I think the plaid border is my favorite!!

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OK – I totally love this pattern!  I’m going to make it again for sure!

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Here’s a list of all the other bloggers taking part in the blog hop, pop over to their blogs for more Apple Farm inspiration.

8/8/16 Jemima @tiedwitharibbon www.tiedwitharibbon.com
8/8/16 Anorina @sameliasmum www.sameliasmum.com
8/9/16 Kimberly @fatquartershop www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/
8/9/16 Bridgette @thefamilyhearth www.thefamilyhearth.com
8/10/16 Taunja @taunjalynn www.carriedawayquilting.com
8/10/16 Nadra @ellisandhiggs www.ellisandhiggs.com
8/11/16 Shari @doohikeydesigns www.doohikeydesigns.com/blog/
8/11/16 Heidi @fabricmutt www.fabricmutt.blogspot.com

8/12/16 Lindsey @fortworthfabricstudio www.fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.com
8/15/16 Ange @alittlepatchwork www.alittlepatchwork.wordpress.com
8/15/16 Lauren @transientart www.transientart.com
8/16/16 Jessica @euphoria_jessica www.euphoriajessica.blogspot.com
8/16/16 Kristyne @prettybyhand www.prettybyhand.com
8/17/16 Melissa @ohhowsweetco www.ohhowsweet.com
8/17/16 Sedef @downgrapevinelane www.downgrapevinelane.com
8/18/16 Faith @faithessenburg www.saranaave.wordpress.com
8/18/16 Veronica @vividfelicity www.vividFelicity.wordpress.com
8/19/16 Megan @dollyhenryau www.dollyhenry.blogspot.com
8/19/16 Amanda @jedicraftgirl www.jedicraftgirl.com
8/19/16 Elea @elealutz www.elealutzdesign.com

Layer Cake Checkmate Quilt

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It’s Christmas in July!  Why not sew a Christmas quilt when its 105 degrees outside!  I love quilt patterns that sew together FAST…..because I’m totally impatient and I have a roomful of fabric that I am dying to sew with.  I need to be able to make a quilt top in a day – better yet an afternoon!  This quilt pattern is perfect for speedy sewing!  Because it sews together so fast it would make a great birthday gift, baby gift, or Christmas gift – which is what mine is going to be 🙂

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You can hop over to Fat Quarter Shop to  download the pattern, click HERE!!!  And you can watch this fun video tutorial!!

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I choose the Juniper Berry Layer Cake by Basic Grey for Moda Fabrics.  It’s the cutest!  I love all the wintry colors!  I used a different color placement with my quilt than the pattern suggests.  My layer cake didn’t just have lights and darks.  Rather, it had lights, mediums, and darks.  The addition of black fabric turned the red, green, and aqua into mediums.  I didn’t want just random black squares throughout the quilt that would draw your eye.  So I turned the 4-patch block into a checker board block using the blacks and lights.  I used the medium tones for the large squares.  I love the result!

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It makes a diagonal of black squares one way and a diagonal of light squares the other way.

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I also turned my quilt into a square so the the diagonal lines would be even.  I’m also not a fan of quilt borders – not sure why 🙂

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Check out these amazing designers to see their version of Layer Cake Checkmate!!

Peta from She Quilts a Lot
Melanie from Mostly Crafty
Connie from Freemotion by the River
Melissa from Happy Quilting
Heidi from Buttons & Butterflies
Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl
Tina from Emily Ann’s Kloset
Sherri M. from A Quilting Life
Andy from A Bright Corner
Anorina from Samelia’s Mum
Sherri F. from This & That Patterns
Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts

Mini Mini Quilt {Sizzix Jar Applique}

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Sometimes something small is better than something big 🙂  I designed this mini mini quilt for a sweet friend.  It can be hung from a clothespin, tacked to a wall or bulletin board, or placed in a hutch; where ever you need a little happy!  I love this jar die by Lori Whitlock.

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I was thrilled to meet up with Lori at Quilt Market!  She is a super talented designer of fabric, paper, Sizzix dies, and crafts.IMG_8221

Let’s get started!!

Supplies:

Sizzix Jar #2 Die

(8) 2 1/2″ squares of white dot

(8) 2 1/2″ squares pink print

Fabric for jar, lid, and hearts

Heat n Bond Lite

2 1/2″ x WOF binding

batting

backing

Bakers Twine

Heart Charm

 

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All seams 1/4″.  Begin by sewing the 2 1/2″ squares together in an alternating pattern with 4 rows of 4.  Press.

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Fuse the Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the jar fabric, lid fabric, and heart fabric. IMG_0444

As you can see this is a great scrap buster!!!IMG_0445

Die cut the jar, the lid and the hearts.  I die cut 11 hearts.  Peel off the backing paper.

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Position the hearts on the jar and the jar on the quilt block.  Mufasa and I are working very late tonight!!IMG_0449

Press the applique pieces in place.

Baste the backing fabric, batting, and quilt block.  Quilt.  I quilted loop de loos around the jar, then quilted with dark gray thread outlining the jar and lid.  I also quilted inside each heart.  Square up the quilt block and add the binding.

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Tie a bow out of bakers twine and tack it to the side of the jar.  I added a little silver heart charm – yes I’m cute 🙂

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I hope you love making this project!  I can’t wait to make more and give for gifts.  You might want to tuck this little idea away for Valentines Day!!

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