Category Archives: Paper Pieced Table Toppers

Heart Bandit

Here’s a cute paper pieced mug rug pattern just in time for Valentine’s Day. You will find it in the January/February 2021 issue of McCalls Quilting.

This HEART BANDIT MUG RUG is cute, cute, cute! The magazine has full instructions for paper piecing the raccoon block and consructing the mug rug.

The sassy little raccoon block is easy to complete in a day. You could have some sweet Valentine’s gifts done in no time.

Wrap up this mug rug with a coffee mug and some hot cocoa!

GNOME LOVE

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?

What’s New For Winter?

January is always a tough month for me…getting through 5 weeks of winter can be grueling. I stay in Wisconsin, and take advantage of the snow with some cross country skiing and snow shoeing. AND I decorate with paper pieced snowmen. They can stay in place until Valentine’s Day or beyond, so it’s an easy decorating theme.

Snowmen from PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND

These 2 cuties are from my newest book, PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND. With 24 block patterns and lots of cute projects, this book is a good bargain.

SNOWMAN TABLE RUNNER

I have my SNOWMAN TABLE RUNNER on my dining table this month. And wouldn’t it be adorable with this GNOME SNOWMAN used for the blocks? He has been one of my hottest sellers this month.

SNOWMAN GNOME

Just in time for the Super Bowl, I have a FOOTBALL GNOME!

FOOTBALL GNOME

This block pattern includes an entire applique alphabet for the flag and even numbers. You can customize your FOOTBALL GNOME with any team letters or numbers!

FOOTBALL GNOME

Football Gnomes would make adorable potholders, pillows, or quilts. Here’s a pillowcase pattern that would make your sports lover sleep better…

GO PACK PILLOWCASE

Is it obvious who I watch on Sundays? Well, I’m not prejudiced, so here are some of the many other football pillowcase patterns that I offer on ETSY.

SEAHAWKS PILLOWCASE
GO BEARS PILLOWCASE
GO VIKES PILLOWCASE

I can’t show them all here. You’ll have to search my shop on ETSY if you are looking for your favorite team.

If you are looking for more snowman or football paper piecing patterns, and have a great suggestion, please email me at: maryannhertel@gmail.com

I LOVE to hear from you!

Gnomes For All Seasons…

Yes, I know…I should be drinking coffee with Bailey’s and putting my feet up for the holidays, but NO…instead I am designing even more Gnomes.

Some of you want Gnomes for every season, so I am adding these new designs to my evergrowing list of gnome paper pieced patterns.

SANTA GNOME

SANTA GNOME works perfectly for the holidays. He has his sack full of toys near by!

REINDEER GNOME

REINDEER GNOME is Santa Gnomes best buddy. They will make a cute couple as potholders!

GNOME WITH GIFTS

GNOME WITH GIFTS has my sweet gnome juggling packages for his lucky friends.

SNOWMAN GNOME

SNOWMAN GNOME has just been posted on Etsy and is wildly popular! He is a cutie patootie.

ICE SKATING GNOME

ICE SKATING GNOME is one of my personal favorites. This brings back so many great memories of skating in the pond on our farm.

SLEDDING GNOME

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.

Have a super holiday!

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs…For a Good Cause.

This adorable handmade paper pieced DOG QUILT is being offered in an online auction, benefits to go to the Street Dog Foundation.

The quilt was lovingly paper pieced by Janet, using my dog patterns, of course! She donated all of the materials and her time for the Street Dog Foundation’s benefit. It would be great if you would show your support by placing a bid on this lovely quilt in the next 2 weeks, after which bidding will end.

HOLIDAY GOLDEN RETRIEVER

And speaking of dog patterns, here are my 4 newest dogs just in time for the holidays… Holiday Golden Retriever reminds me of my first dog, a lovable Golden.

Holiday Pug

This Holiday Pug block was inspired by my Pug loving customers. There are so many of them!

Holiday French Bulldog

The Holiday French Bulldog block would make a super cute pillow for Christmas, or anytime!

Holiday Dachshund

The Holiday Dachshund was inspired by a good friend who loves them.

I would love to see what you can create with these new holiday blocks…please share photos! Here are some of my customers latest photo shares…

Doggie Tree Skirt

I am in love with Marilyn’s Doggie Tree Skirt. This tree skirt could be made by substituting my dog blocks for the Christmas blocks in my Christmas Tree Skirt Sampler.

Rescue, It Does A Body Good

Can you believe this cute as can be rescue quilt created by Gina? Love it!

This is Judy being creative. She took my Pit Bull block pattern and revised it to create an image that looks exactly like her dog. I am so proud of my very talented customers!

Here’s a great version of Doggies in black and white fabrics from Bobbi. Can’t wait to see what you are making from my dog blocks!

Which Witch is Which?

I’ve just designed two new witch blocks just in time for Halloween…

WANDA THE WITCH

This is such an easy pattern…using a striped fabric for Wanda The Witch’s hair makes it look like it has lots of texture. Wanda has such a beautiful wonky nose! Very witchy indeed!

GOOFY WITCH

My Goofy Witch has 2 sparkling teeth and a giant wart on her nose. Wouldn’t it be fun to make potholders from these two lovely witches? Which witch is which????

Here are a few more adorable Halloween projects made from my paper pieced witch and cat patterns…

Gayle constructed this wonderful Halloween pillow using my TOOTHY WITCH. I love her fabric choices!

Here is SCAT CAT used in a pillow. See how easy those crazy teeth are using a striped fabric? And what a great border fabric!

Here is the same SKAT CAT pattern. Look how fabrics can change the look of a pattern! The fabrics you choose say something about your personality.

Keep sending me your Halloween photos. I love seeing what you are creating.

Halloween Patterns

My newest book, PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND, has patterns for every month of the year. This book is hot off the press and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Here are 2 October blocks from my book made into Mini Quilts…

Mini Quilts

These 2 blocks are some of my many Halloween patterns. Check out what my friends and customers have been creating with some of my other paper pieced Halloween patterns…

Toothy Witch, Glinda the Witch, Frankenstein, and Dracula

This adorable wall hanging was created by Bernadette.

I have lots of different Witch patterns!
Bewitched!

This adorable wall hanging was constructed by Christine. I love the fabrics she chose.

Witchy Feet and Kit Cat

Love, love, love these placemats put together by Leeanne. I would love to have these on my table.

Trick or Treat Bags by Joyce…stinkin’ cute!

BOO COLLECTION

What a great table runner by Eva!

GHOSTS and JACK O LANTERN

An awesome table runner by Sharon. Super cute!

Check out my many Autumn patterns on Etsy.

SEW MAGICAL Trunk Show

I am super excited to share my newest book, SEW MAGICAL. This paper piece book is FANTASTICAL!

SEW MAGICAL

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!

Paper Pieced Garden Gnome

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.

GNOME, SWEET, GNOME!

Linking this week with:

Under the Sea Paper Pieced Patterns

I designed my newest pattern with my Florida friends in mind. After spending a week with my sister in February in the Villages, Florida, and admiring all of her lovely sea turtle sculptures, I designed a paper pieced version. After adding a few more ideas, I designed this sea lovers dream.

The UNDER THE SEA pattern offers 12 paper pieced blocks with a nautical theme. Customers were requesting sea shell patterns, so of course I went all in and added fish, turtles, and even a lobster.

These are some of my faves!

LOBSTER
CONCH
LIGHT BULB FISH
JELLYFISH
SEA SHELL
CLOWN FISH
SEA TURTLE

Thanks for joining me today and allowing me to share how I am spending my time indoors.

Linking this week with:

Happy Easter Duckies

I put out my Easter Ducky potholders this month. Love Easter and I love Easter paper piecing!

These Duckies are from my EASTER TABLE RUNNER pattern.

Here are some of my Easter block patterns that sell separately:

Bunny and Duckie Potholders

Happy Easter Bunny Block and Happy Easter Duckie Block.

CHOCOLATE BUNNY
EASTER BONNET
PEEPER, this block is part of the table runner pattern.

The majority of my time this month has been devoted to sewing masks for friends and family.

So far I have given away 100 masks, although shortages of elastic has made this project difficult.

Please stay safe and healthy!