Category Archives: quilting

Leprechauns Everywhere!

Since St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, I am highlighting some of my St. Pat’s designs this week.

If you want a quick and cute kit for a LEPRECHAUN GNOME PILLOW you will find this kit available on RebsFabStash online quilt shop.

Or you could just order the LEPRECHAUN GNOME BLOCK.

This is my newest LIL’ LEPRECHAUN GNOME BLOCK pattern.

I used the Lil’ Leprechaun in this cute as can be kitchen towel…

Lil’ Leprechaun

The LUCKY LEPRECHAUN is my most popular block this month. His nose is a stuffed fabric yoyo.

LUCKY LEPRECHAUN BLOCK

Here he is in a mug rug…

LUCKY LEPRECHAUN MUG RUG

And here’s LEPRECHAUN.

LEPRECHAUN

This is a sweet table runner that my customer created using LEPRECHAUN and CLOVER LEAF.

Carin shared a photo of the Lucky Leprechaun Journals made by her friends. Aren’t they just the cutest?

I’d love to see what you have created with my Leprechauns!

Foxy Valentine

My Foxy Valentine paper pieced block is featured in the January/February issue of QUILTMAKER magazine.

FOXY VALENTINE

This Foxy block pattern is only available in the Quiltmaker magazine at this time.

I’ve included a pillow pattern in the magazine, too. I have my Foxy Valentine pillow on my sofa this month.

Here are some other cute Valentine patterns.

VALENTINE BLOCK I
VALENTINE BLOCK II

These 2 block patterns are in my newest book PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND. I’m using them in my hanging towels. This project is included in the book, as well as many more home decor patterns.

LOAD OF LOVE is an adorable block. Surprise your favorite “truck lover” with this special valentine.

LOAD OF LOVE
EYE LOVE U PUPPY

The EYE LOVE U PUPPY block is cute as can be! I’d love to see the projects you make from this block.

BE MINE PUPPY

Here’s a sweet puppy holding a valentine, BE MINE PUPPY. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner… what will you create?

Gnomes for MORE Seasons…

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.

EASTER BUNNY GNOME

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.

GNOME WITH PUMPKIN

The GNOME WITH PUMPKIN would work nicely for October or November.

WEENIE ROAST GNOME

The WEENIE ROAST BLOCK is the first in a series of new CAMPING GNOMES. I’m having so much fun with these blocks.

GNOME IN A CANOE

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.

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?

Winter Gnomes

Here are my latest additions to my paper pieced Gnome collection.

GNOME IN A TRUCK

GNOME IN A TRUCK is a combination of my 2 favorite things…red trucks and gnomes! I was so happy with this sweet gnome, that I made his girl friend…

GIRL GNOME IN A TRUCK

GIRL GNOME‘s braids have small pieces, which makes this an intermediate level pattern.

GNOME WITH A HEART

This GNOME WITH A HEART has been very popular for Valentine’s Day projects. I’m making a sofa pillow. What are you using it for?

Happy Valentines Day … will you be my gnomie?

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!

New Christmas Patterns

It’s not too late to sew some christmas magic! Here are some of my newest Christmas paper pieced patterns. Most of these patterns were designed after hearing feedback from my wonderful customers. I appreciate your input and requests!

BUG WITH TREE

This Volkswagon Beetle is delivering the Christmas tree. You could use your own photo and put yourself in the driver’s seat in BUG WITH TREE. This pattern is stinkin’ cute!

CAROLING BUDDIES

I designed this holiday potholder set for a Christmas blog last year, but it has been such a popular pattern. CAROLING BUDDIES is a sweet pattern for Christmas and dog lovers everywhere!

ORNAMENTS

My paper pieced ORNAMENTS pattern has TEN ornament designs…

PENGUINS
DOGS
SANTA AND REINDEER
CATS

These ornaments are small, and can be put together quickly. Make them for stocking stuffers, or for your own tree. The tiny pom pom braid is hot glued around the finished ornament…so EZ!

GNOME WITH CANDY CANE

After friends asked for more Christmas Gnomes, I designed these 4 new Gnomes…

CHRISTMAS MISS GNOME
LUMBERJACK GNOME
GNOME WITH LANTERN

I’m lovin’ this holiday season…stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy!

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!

Paper Piecing All Year Round

My newest book, PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND, is ready for pre-sale from Amazon. I don’t even have a copy of it yet…that’s how new it is!

PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND

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.

TWO GNOMES

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.

TWO PATRIOTIC PUPS

These 2 July puppies are shown in MINI QUILTS that work great on wire quilt stands, or even as wall hangings.

ACORN AND SQUIRREL

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.

TURKEY 1

Here are 2 TURKEYS that would look great in your home for November!

DOGGIE BABY BIBS

Start whipping up some early Christmas gifts with these stinkin’ cute December dog blocks. So easy…you could make these in a day!

OCTOPUS AND CRAB

This BABY BLANKET whips together in no time. Use any 3 cute blocks of your choice and you are on your way to an adorable baby gift.

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Hand sew a hanging pocket to the back, or hang as desired.
  5. 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.
  6. Machine stitch a 10″ strip of velcro 1″ from the top of the Calendar holder, on the right side.
  7. Hand stitch a strip of Velcro to the back of any of the Mini Quilts to hang at the top of your Calendar Holder.