Category Archives: Paper Piecing

Scrap Busting Blog Hop

Welcome to our Scrap Busting Blog Hop, where we embrace every scrap in our sewing rooms. We are proving that there is no unusable scrap! I find that especially true in paper piecing, where I use my scraps every day. It is important to have a wide variety of colors to choose from when paper piecing, so as to find just that right print and color when piecing together an image.

Thanks to Melissa for hosting this blog hop and giving the designers a chance to share something new.

Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I have created a new HEARTY GNOME block. It is cute as can be, and is free to anyone who subscribes to my blog.

HEARTY GNOME

This block is great for intermediate paper piecers, but could be tackled by a confident beginner, too. This sweet gnome looks great in all kinds of projects. I added him to a 12″ pillow.

I have more Valentine Gnome patterns that would pair nicely with the HEARTY GNOME.

GNOME WITH HEART PATTERN

GNOME WITH HEART would make a great companion pillow, or make a pair of potholders, or even a small table runner. This paper pieced block pattern is available on Etsy.

GNOME LOVE PATTERN

GNOME LOVE is not only lovely for your Valentine, but would also make a great gift for a wedding or anniversary. Notice how the space between their hats forms a heart? This pattern is also available on Etsy.

If you are new to paper piecing, visit the Video/Tutorial Page on this blog for step by step directions to paper piece using my patterns.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please visit the SCRAP BUSTING BLOG HOP every Monday in January and February to see new Scrap Busting posts.

You can also visit these SCRAP BUSTING BLOG participants:

Quilting Room With Mel

Katie Mae Quilts

Some Holiday Projects

I am always asking my customers to send photos of the things they create using my patterns. Today I am sharing some of my favorite photos.

This adorable wall hanging was sewn by Carol Cheesman using LUMBERJACK GNOME, SANTA GNOME, and GNOME WITH GIFTS.

Elise Brasseale made these cute little mug rugs using the elf from SEW YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, and GNOME WITH LANTERN.

Crafty Judy Miniclier created this adorable GNOME QUILT, using assorted GNOMES FROM MY SHOP. Beautiful!

These Christmas blocks were shared by Joyce Albers. She is creating a holiday quilt. She used HO HO HO SANTA, CARDINAL, ICE SKATE, and EASY ICE SKATE.

Joyce Olson created this super cute CAMPING QUILT, using a variety of my patterns plus my CAMPING BLOCKS.

Maridee Hargis made my SNOWMAN GNOME block into a potholder.

I just want to kiss this little guy, LABRADOODLE BLOCK. Little mat sewn by Monique Covell.

And my last customer project for today is from Mary Edholm, sewing this sweet UNICORN PILLOW, using my UNICORN BLOCK.

HOLIDAY GOLDEN RETRIEVER
HOLIDAY FRENCH BULLDOG
HOLIDAY DACHSHUND

I am making these 3 holiday dogs for some Xmas pillows…HOLIDAY GOLDEN RETRIEVER, HOLIDAY FRENCH BULLDOG, and HOLIDAY DACHSHUND.

Happy sewing!

November Paper Piecing

I’m excited to be on the cover of the 2021 QUILTMAKER magazine, November/December issue. Those are my cute sledding Penguins on the cover.

PENGUIN MUG RUGS

These blocks are as fun to paper piece as they look!

PENGUIN PLAYTIME

The wonderful editors at Golden Peak Media have been so awesome to work with, and are always looking for clever quilting ideas for their magazines. I am so lucky to be in a second magazine this month…

McCall’s Quilting

My GNOME APRON is in the 2021 McCall’s Quilting November/December issue.

GNOME APRON

You know how much I love my Gnomies. This holiday apron is adorable, and so easy to make. I wear my apron when I give lectures for Quilt Guilds! It’s a crowd pleaser.

Speaking of Gnomes…here are my newest Gnome additions for November…

THANKSGIVING GNOME

THANKSGIVING GNOME is holding his Indian corn. The best fun is finding just the right fabric for the corn cobs.

BEER DRINKING GNOME

I am not a huge beer drinker, but this BEER DRINKING GNOME was created as a special request from a customer, and it is quite popular!

GNOME WITH A LIGHTHOUSE

GNOME WITH A LIGHTHOUSE was designed for my brother-in-law who collects lighthouses.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving…life is good. Enjoy!

Even MORE Halloween Fun!

I’ve had so much fun all month designing Halloween Gnomes. I know how much you love paper pieced gnomes, and so do I! After finishing 12 new Halloween blocks, I have put them into my latest quilt pattern.

BOO CREW GNOME QUILT

I’m loving all of these Gnomes, but here are some of my favorites…

The SO FRANKEN CUTE GNOME has a tiny little spider made from a button with French Knot eyes. Adorps!

The WITCH’S BREW GNOME is mixing her favorite concoction in her cauldron….TOO FUN!

Here is BOO 2 GNOME. He’s one of my faves!

JACK O’LANTERN GNOME couldn’t be any cuter. I love the white tooth!

BLACK CAT GNOME was the most fun to piece! But I honestly love them all. All 12 Halloween blocks are also available sold separately for your smaller holiday projects.

I would like to thank all of my friends and customers who participated in this year’s Row-Along. The winner of my FREE GNOME WITH BIG CATCH block pattern is Sue Holman. Congrats!

More Halloween Fun…Gotta Love It!

Your response to my latest Halloween paper pieced blocks was so overwhelming that guess what? I designed more! Let’s get as much Halloween as possible!

The WITCH GNOME WITH SPIDER is cute, cute, cute! Maybe use this witch gnome with my other WITCH BLOCKS to make a table runner or quilt?

This little gnome is holding the biggest candy corn ever! CANDY CORN GNOME is stinkin’ cute!

FROG MAGIC

FROG MAGIC is a witchy little frog. I’m planning a super cool pillow with this little guy! Aren’t frogs just the best?

Look at this adorable Spider Pillow created by Connie, using my SPOOKY SPIDER BLOCK.

SPOOKY SPIDER

You can purchase just my SPIDER BLOCK HERE, or If you want to make a Spider Pillow just like Connie’s, you can order Connie’s kit by going to OCTOBER 31 PILLOW KIT. The kit will include the Spider pattern.

That’s all for now…but we still have lots of time before Halloween 2021, so stay tuned for even more Halloween fun!

HALLOWEEN GNOME BLOCKS

My favorite holiday is approaching! I’m excited to use these brand new Halloween paper pieced block patterns in some projects. Which is your favorite?

BOO GNOME

Wouldn’t an entire Halloween Quilt be great? Here are more Halloween paper pieced blocks that could be added…

This spooky quilt was put together by my customer Donna. She did an awesome job using my collection of Halloween blocks. All of these block patterns, as well as all of the gnome blocks can be found at ETSY.

Protected: It’s a SEASIDE ADVENTURE Row-Along AND Give-Away!

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Gardening Gnomes

Gardening is such a popular pastime. I am almost as passionate about gardening as I am for paper piecing.

My sweet customer Trish, requested some gardening gnomes.

Trish particularly wanted a girl gnome with braids.

GARDENING GNOME

This gnome helps me water the flowers.

I use my blocks for all sorts of projects…

Garden Gnome Vest

I designed this vest for a sewing competition. Kind of quirky and whimsical! Next I am using the garden gnomes on some pillows for a gift.

The 3 day sewing competition is called TOP STITCH and was held in Ripon, Wisconsin. There were 4 of us competing, sewing a different challenge every day. The first day we created umbrellas…

Chris, Myself, Jill, and Deanna

Our second challenge was a lampshade…

Can you guess which lampshade is mine??? Here’s a hint…it’s the paper pieced one!

The best thing about the competition was meeting 3 new wonderful friends. Jill’s company, June Tailor, is having a huge WAREHOUSE SALE in West Bend next week. She invited me to be a vendor.

I will be vending on Thursday and Friday, August 26 and 27 at this awesome fabric and notions sale in West Bend, Wisconsin.

If you are wondering who won the TOP STITCH competition…it wasn’t me! But I will keep the names of the winners a surprise, as you can watch the video on Creative Spark soon.

Just a Few Days Left!

Our Christmas Pattern Bundle ends on Friday. It has everything you need to get a GOOD HEAD START this year! With quilts, tree skirt, ornament, stocking, mini quilts (perfect for quick decorations) this bundle of 13 patterns by 13 designers will help you get sewing and inspired to get done sooner than Christmas eve. Thirteen Christmas patterns for $19.99, for a limited time – available for 5 days only, July 5-9, 2021!

This is a short 5 day sale.  After this date, the product will not be available for purchase any longer. So, —if you snooze you lose.

You’ll love the patterns, which include paper piecing, traditional piecing and a little bit of embroidery. Something for any level of quilter.  From beginner to advanced. You’ll love showing off your skills with these fun gifts you can sew! 

And, maybe you’ll just sew them for yourself.  That’s all right too. 

To check out the patterns AND the DESIGNERS — GO HERE!

These are our 13 designers…find them on Instagram here…

@hemandbind

@craftmoore

@MeadowMistDesigns

@thesewingloft

@piecedjustsew

@simplesimonandco

@AmyBarickman_studio

@krisdriessen

@bonjour_quilts

@quiltingjetgirl

@orangeblossomquilt

@madebymarney 

@patchwork_posse 

@iaquilters

Pond Critters and other Summery Stuff

My garden is calling me… and I’m enjoying sunny days in my yard. Here’s my “SucculentTurtle”. I left him out in the snow all winter and about half of the hen and chicks survived the Wisconsin cold.

When a customer asked me to design some “pond creatures”, a turtle was a must.

POND COLLECTION

Paper piecing a fantastic turtle is all about the fabric you can find for the turtle’s shell. I just happened to have this scrap left from a previous project, and it is perfect for a turtle done completely in cool colors. I have no recollection of the fabric company, but if you recognize it, please share with me as I’m sure someone will ask 🙂

POND COLLECTION

My customer specifically wanted a block with a DRAGONFLY and cattails. Here’s the complete collection, sold as a set of 4 paper pieced blocks.

POND COLLECTION

Since these patterns have some small pieces, I would recommend them for an intermediate or experienced paper piecer. The TURTLE is the easiest of the 4.

Here are some of my customers beautiful projects…I’m so proud of them!

PAPER PIECED DOGS

This is Terry’s first ever paper piecing project…all the dogs are my patterns except for that cute poodle in the bottom row!

Penny paper pieced all of my horse patterns from HAY GIRL. Penny’s grandaughter will love this gift on her 7th birthday. The large horse in the center is not my pattern… but is gorgeous!

UNICORN BLOCK

This UNICORN BLOCK is one of my most popular pattern blocks, and Mary made the cutest pillow for her 4 year old grandaughter. Her favorite colors are pink and purple, of course!

Keep emailing your photos! I love seeing what you are creating with my patterns.