As summer approaches, I am anticipating playing my newest passion in the park, Pickleball. All winter I have beaten the blues by socializing with 8 friends at indoor pickleball, while wearing masks.
I even sewed matching “pickle masks” for our teams. But I can’t wait to get back outside and play at some of the local courts in our city parks.
So when my son Brady suggested I create a Pickleball Gnome, I knew he was absolutely right. How had I forgotten to make a gnome doing my favorite sport?
And here’s the Pickleball Slammer, which is my favorite shot!
I’d love to hear from any other pickleball enthusiasts! What are you doing to promote pickleball? Where do you love to play? I’m in Wisconsin, so we are limited in winter to a tennis center or YMCA.
So many customers are asking for more GNOMES. If you are looking for a paper pieced gnome for every month of the year, you can pick and choose the 12 you like the most to make your gnome quilt….choose a Gnome for every month. Here are some of my newest gnomes.
For the EASTER BUNNY GNOME I lucked out and found a scrap of this great basket weave fabric. The most fun was finding some adorable Easter egg buttons from Hobby Lobby to fill my basket. Click on HOBBY LOBBY if you want to find the same eggs. These buttons were actually in the craft department by the scrapbooking supplies. But you could hot glue or sew anything in the basket…tiny buttons, small flowers, or a mini chick! This gnome would be great for the month of April.
The GNOME IN CANOE block pattern is the second in my CAMPING GNOMES series. I’ll be making more of these designs, and would love some input for more ideas for these cute campers! Please email me at maryannhertel@gmail.com with your thoughts.
One of my customers, Nickola, requested a gnome couple holding hands. GNOME LOVE is now available on ETSY. This would be so cute for February projects. I am going to make a potholder for a wedding. What would you make?
SLEDDING GNOME is having a great time! These are my newest holiday gnome designs. I will save my other new patterns til next time. I have some for Spring, Summer, and Fall.
This book has something for everyone. I have designed 2 images for each month of the year… that means you will be getting 24 paper pieced block patterns, plus the patterns for 7 different projects. All blocks fit in all patterns in this book, as well as all of the projects in my previous 5 books.
These 2 adorable Gnomes are the images for March. Here I have used them together in a pillow. Pillow pattern is included, as are all of the projects I show you in this post.
Lots of customers have been asking me for a Squirrel pattern, so I am including him in this book. These September POTHOLDERS can also be used as MINI QUILTS.
These super easy hand towels could be used in your kitchen or bathroom. Customize them with any 2 images from my book. Wouldn’t the Octopus and Crab also work great as bath towels?
As you can see, you are getting LOTS … with 24 paper pieced block patterns, and 7 project patterns! But just for fun, let’s add an extra FREE project pattern right here! Attach any of the Mini Quilts to the top of this CALENDAR HOLDER with a strip of Velcro. This will make the Mini Quilts interchangeable.
CALENDAR HOLDER
This Calendar Holder is 15″ wide and 28″ long.
Cut from main fabric: Cut one 15″ x 28″ rectangle. Cut one 15″ x 25″ rectangle for pocket (to be folded in half). Cut two 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for binding.
Cut from muslin: Cut one 15″ x 28″ rectangle for backing.
Cut from fusible fleece: Cut one 15″ x 28″ rectangle for main body. Cut one 15″ x 12 1/2″ for pocket.
Cut from Fast 2 Fuse Interfacing, Heavy: Cut two 2″ x 15″ strips. Cut one 4″ x 15″ strip.
Fuse the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the 15″ x 28″ main body using a pressing cloth. Fuse one of the 2″ x 15″ Fast 2 Fuse strips to the wrong side of the main body, at the top. Fuse the 4″ x 15″ Fast 2 Fuse strip to the center. Pin the muslin to the back of the main body. Top stitch approximately 1/4″ from the edges of all Fast 2 Fuse pieces through all layers, to keep them in place.
Pocket: Fuse the 12 1/2″ x 15″ fusible fleece to the wrong side of the pocket, at the bottom. Fuse the remaining 2″ x 15″ Fast 2 Fuse strip overlapping the top of the fusible fleece. this will give extra strength to the top of the pocket. Fold the remainder of the fabric to the back of the pocket for lining. Top stitch 1/4″ from the edges of the Fast 2 Fuse strip to keep it in place.
Pin the pocket at the bottom of the main body, matching the bottom corners and the raw edges. Prepare the 2 strips of binding. Bind around the 4 sides of the calendar holder, catching the pocket as you stitch.
Hand sew a hanging pocket to the back, or hang as desired.
Slide a piece of cardboard into the pocket, then slide in the calendar. I used a calendar from the Dollar Store, which came with the a piece of cardboard.
Machine stitch a 10″ strip of velcro 1″ from the top of the Calendar holder, on the right side.
Hand stitch a strip of Velcro to the back of any of the Mini Quilts to hang at the top of your Calendar Holder.
The only item hotter than gnomes right now are lanterns. This clever little gnome is done in Christmas colors, but doesn’t need to be. The GNOME WITH LANTERN would be adorable all year round.
I like a gnome with braids. MISS GNOME has very cute braids, and she pairs nicely with GNOME WITH A BIRD. These 2 would make a lovely pair of pillows or potholders.
The 16 mystical blocks in this book are amazing. I can’t wait to see what you will do with them. Here are some of the things I came up with, and all of the directions for sewing these projects are included in the book.
Lap Quilt
This adorable lap quilt is so versatile. You can add any of the blocks from the book to create your own masterpiece quilt.
Backpack
This super sweet Backpack would make the nicest gift for someone you love.
Baby Quilt
This quilt could be for a baby, or perhaps just someone who loves mermaids!
Unicorn Pillow
There are 2 pillow patterns in the book, so any of the blocks can be incorporated into a pillow.
Gnome Pillow
Plus these 5 blocks…
Gryphon
Fairy
Hydra
Pegasus
Knight
This book is jam packed with fun for all you paper piecers! If you live anywhere near APPLETON, WISCONSIN, please join me on Friday, June 26 for my official SEND OFF for SEW MAGICAL. This Trunk Show is being held at FOX VALLEY QUILT COMPANY, and I will be there to meet you and sign books from 10 am -1 pm. The address is: 1400 W College Ave, Appleton, WI 54914.
There will also be a Quilt Show with 20 of my newest projects. Hope to see you on Friday!
I am obsessed with paper pieced gnomes. They are so stinkin’ cute!
This is my newest Gnome pattern: GNOME WITH A BIRD. I call him my “garden gnome”, so he would make a great Spring or Summer project. But he could also be holding a red cardinal for a winter project.
GNOME WITH MUSHROOMS is another cute block. I used this block in a small sofa pillow. His nose could be a button, or made from fabric. I used a small wooden plug (like a carpenter would use) hot glued to the finished block.
This Gnome is in my newest book SEW MAGICAL. It can be pre-ordered from AMAZON, and is expected in June.
This is going to be my cutest book ever! You can see the Gnome Pillow on the cover. He is 1 of 16 magical blocks included in the book.
His nose is made from a stuffed yo-yo. I’m using my Gnome pillow on my bedroom sofa.
