Category Archives: quilting

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!

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.

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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.

Loons

I’m having fun designing new bird patterns…

LOON ON THE LAKE #2

Finding the right fabrics is always the key. The water fabric is perfect, don’t you agree? And the wonky black and white hashtag makes a super cute loon fabric! LOON ON THE LAKE #2 and LOON ON THE LAKE #3 are both brand new designs.

LOON ON THE LAKE #3

Here’s a loon I already had in my collection of FOWL FRIENDS. I’m planning to put all 3 of these loons together for a table runner for my cabin. We have a pair of loons that return to our lake in northern Wisconsin every year.

LOON ON THE LAKE

Those loons were my inspiration for designing this quilt pattern. I wanted to make a collection of water loving birds.

Here are some creations that my customers have made from my first loon pattern…

Barb made her loon for a challenge quilt.
Here’s her finished challenge quilt…awesome!

Larisa created her loons for a lap quilt. Who doesn’t love loons!

CHICKADEE #2

CHICKADEE #1 and CHICKADEE #2 were both designed at the request of a customer.

CHICKADEE #1

These 2 cuties remind me of Spring.

BIRDS AND BLOOMS

I Love Kitty Kats

My customers have been requesting more paper pieced cat patterns, and I am super happy to oblige. Here is a new SIAMESE CAT pattern.

SIAMESE CAT

Plus here is an adorable SIAMESE KITTEN

SIAMESE KITTEN

This is my first quilt design with cats, CATS N DOGS.

CATS N DOGS

This quilt has 6 Cats and 6 Dogs. All of the cats are super easy, which makes this a great design for beginner paper piecers.

SCAREDY CAT

After seeing how my customers responded to this design, I knew I needed to create a quilt with all cats.

CRAZY CATS

One of these cat patterns was used by my sweet customer Pam, who is teaching paper piece. Such a wonderful skill to develop fine motor coordination.

The cat was created by Jess, a mother of 5. This is her first attempt at paper piecing. Didn’t she do a great job? Sewing has been a stress reliever and time out just for her. I love that she used different sized buttons for the eyes!

This is a quilt from my CATS N DOGS pattern, created by a customer. Love the color scheme they used.

And this quilt created by Bobbi…such great fabrics! This would be great in a nursery…all the young mothers I know are crazy about gray in their nurseries!

The CHRISTMAS CATS pattern has 4 super cute kitties in holiday garb. Look how cute they look when used in this table runner.

CHRISTMAS CATS

Plus I have a nice assortment of HALLOWEEN CATS.

This CUTE KITTY is sold as a block pattern, and is super easy for beginners.

CUTE KITTY

And finally one of my favorites…THREE CATS AND ONE DOG WITH A BONE.

THREE CATS AND ONE DOG WITH A BONE

I will keep working on more cat patterns…thanks for being such an inspiration.

Hippity Hoppity, Easter’s On It’s Way

If you are looking for some quick Easter projects, you might enjoy these paper pieced blocks…

EASTER BUNNY GNOME

Here is one of my newer Gnomes Blocks. The EASTER BUNNY GNOME BLOCK would make adorable potholders or a pillow.

EASTER PATTERNS

The EASTER TABLE RUNNER PATTERN has 6 blocks of bunnies and chicks. I have these potholders hanging in my kitchen right now!

These projects were created by Marilyn using the above pattern. Great job!

HAPPY EASTER BUNNY AND DUCKY POTHOLDERS are super cute, and can be used in other projects, too.

Didn’t Lisa do a wonderful job making this Easter table runner using the HAPPY EASTER BUNNY BLOCK?

EASTER BUNNY 2

Edith used my EASTER BUNNY 2 BLOCK to make this adorable Easter tote. I love seeing what you are making with my patterns. Please share your photos!

Happy Easter to all!