The Last Unicorn and other FREE STUFF

June 1, 2020Blog Hop, FREE Patterns, free tutorial, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, Paper Pieced Quiltsfree paper piece pattern, free patterns, free tutorials, made by marney, paper piece patterns, paper pieced pattern, paper piecing, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patternsmaryhertel

Welcome to our 2019 Once Upon A Story Row-A-Long. A big THANK YOU to Marian Pena and her hours of preparation time organizing this years event.

My featured fairy tale is The Last Unicorn, by Peter Beagle.

The Last Unicorn is a lovely story about a unicorn who dreams big!

This paper pieced unicorn row measures 9″ x 18″. This includes the outer border. The letters “Dream Big” are machine embroidered onto the finished block. But, any word or name could be used. And if machine embroidery is not your thing, a word could be appliqued in the space above the unicorn.

This pattern is NO LONGER FREE, but can be found at UNICORN ON ETSY. The FREE pattern has expired and now is available in MADE BY MARNEY ETSY SHOP.

And now for the GIVE-AWAY! If unicorns are your thing, you will love my new pattern “UNICORN QUILT”. You can win this pattern free, just leave a COMMENT below. I would love to hear what your favorite subject matter is for a quilt.

This quilt is excellent for a beginner. The paper pieced blocks are super easy. The Unicorn is paper pieced, and the flowers and alphabet letters are applique. This is a great quilt to personalize.

Not a paper piecer? Watch my free tutorials: PAPER PIECING TUTORIAL #1 and PAPER PIECING TUTORIAL #2

Click on RAFFLECOPTER to
enter the GIVE-AWAY.

Please visit the other bloggers participating today in this Row-A-Long.

Snoozing…not really!

May 25, 2020horse block, horse pattern, horse quilt, paper piece horse, paper pieced horse, quilt blocks, quilting, Quilts with Animals, Uncategorizedhorse block, horse quilt block, paper piece patterns, paper pieced, paper pieced animals, paper pieced horse, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, pony quilt, pony quilt blockmaryhertel

While I have been relaxing at the cabin, sipping Bailey’s and coffee, and enjoying the serenity, my friends and customers have been hard at work paper piecing!

I am super impressed with Anita’s fabulous adaptation of my HAY GIRL horse quilt pattern! Wow. Blue and brown has always been my favorite color combination. Didn’t she do an awesome job?

Christine made this charming birthday pillow using just one of the horse blocks. I love how she choose neutral colors, which will match anyone’s decor. This pony is one of my all time favorite horse patterns. I even have it on my computer screen saver!

Besides the 12 ponies in the HAY GIRL pattern, here are some of my other iconic horse patterns…

I designed this ROCKING HORSE BLOCK for a baby quilt.

This sweet PONY was designed for my first book, CUTE AND CLEVER TOTES. I’ve always loved her hairdo. She has inspired many of my other horse patterns.

If you have created anything with any of my horse patterns, I would love to see a photo! Send pictures to: maryannhertel@gmail.com

Linking this week with:

Paper Pieced Garden Gnome

April 28, 2020gnome, gnome pattern, gnome pillow, gnome quilt, Paper Pieced Blocks, paper pieced gnome, paper pieced gnome block, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, quilt blocks, quiltinggnome, gnome block pattern, gnome blocks, gnome pillow, paper piece patterns, paper pieced, paper pieced birds, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt blocks, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patterns, quiltsmaryhertel

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

April 20, 2020fish blocks, fish patterns, paper piece fish, paper piece sea shell, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, quilt blocks, quilting, Quilts with Animals, sea shell patternfish quilt blocks, paper piece patterns, paper pieced animals, paper pieced fish, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt blocks, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patterns, quiltsmaryhertel

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!

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

Linking this week with:

FREE MASK PATTERN: Mask Making 101

April 16, 2020free face mask pattern, free mask pattern, FREE Patterns, free tutorialcoronavirus, covid19, face mask, face mask pattern, free face mask pattern, free mask pattern, free patternsmaryhertel

I have had requests to share a pattern for the masks I am donating. This pattern was originally found on the Craft Passion website. I give all the credit possible to this site for the original pattern. After making a bunch of the masks, I have tweeked the pattern to be a bit more fitted. Now I am super happy with the fit, and it is a very easy pattern to assemble.

I’ve already sewn over 150 face masks to give-away to friends and family. This is not a medical mask, but a mask to use for home, grocery shopping, etc. However, it is very easy to adapt this pattern to add a pocket on the back to hold an N95 filter.

Download the FACE MASK PATTERN HERE. Set your printer at CUSTOM 100%. Make sure the little box on the pattern measures 1 inch square.

Cut 2 main fabric pieces, 2 lining pieces, and 2 fusible interfacing pieces. I use the same interfacing used for T-shirt quilts. The interfacing is optional.
Fuse the interfacing to the back of the 2 main fabric pieces.
Sew the seam at the front of the 2 main pieces, and the front of the 2 lining pieces.

4. Clip the curves on both pieces, then press the seams towards one side. Topstitch 1/8″ from the seam on the Main piece only. I am using white thread so you can see the topstitching.

6. Pin the lining to the main piece, right sides together.

7. Press under 1/4″ along the lining and main fabric pieces, just on one end of the mask. The other end will be sewn shut.

8. Sew all the way around the mask, leaving the one end open for turning.

9. Clip the curve by the nose area.

10. Turn the mask right side out through the turning hole on the side. A turning tool or knitting needle is helpful. Press.

11. Top stitch 1/4″ from the edge.

12. Press under each end on the “FOLD” line shown on the pattern. Place a 9″ piece of Round Cord Elastic under the flap and stitch the flap down. On this mask I am using 2mm elastic, but 1mm also works fine.

13. Tie a knot in the elastic .

14. Pull the knot into the channel created by the fold.

This mask fits an adult female. Men may need a longer elastic. If the mask is too small for a man, increase the size of the pattern by about 1/4″ along the top and sides for a man, decrease 1/4″ for a child’s size.

Let’s keep everyone safe! Happy mask making.

Happy Easter Duckies

April 8, 2020Bunny blocks, Ducky blocks, Easter paper piece, Easter Paper Piecing, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, quiltingEaster Block, Easter paper piecing, Easter patterns, paper piece patterns, paper pieced, paper pieced animals, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patterns, quiltsmaryhertel

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:

Happy Easter Bunny Block and Happy Easter Duckie Block.

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!

New Patterns for Spring

March 12, 2020baseball pattern, paper piece baseball, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, quilt blocks, quiltingmaryhertel

Congratulations to Karen Miller, the winner of the Piggy Pillow pattern. Thanks for all of your sweet comments.

Here are some of the new blocks that I worked on this week. All of these images were requested by my lovely customers.

This ANT BLOCK was so much fun to make, I plan to make more insects. I already have butterflies and spiders. Any other suggestions?

The FROGGIE BLOCK is an adaptation of a frog from my FAIRY PRINCESS QUILT pattern.

And for baseball lovers, these fun BASEBALL POTHOLDERS will be perfect! Use your team’s colors to make these potholders work for your favorite baseball team.

Thanks so much for stopping by to “visit” today!

Pig Day and Pig-Give-Away

March 4, 2020give-away, Paper pieced Animals, paper pieced pig, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, pig block, pig quilt, quilt blocks, Quilts with Animalsgive away, paper piece patterns, paper pieced, paper pieced animals, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced pig, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, pig quilt, quilt block patterns, quilt blocks, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patterns, quiltsmaryhertel

After reading Kathy’s Quilts cute post on “National Pig Day” on March 1(who ever knew?), I realized there must be many more people who have a pig obsession besides me!

Her pig pattern came from Kelli at Seriously I Think It Needs Stitches, where Kelli shares this Pig Block tutorial. This has motivated me to also have a PIG-GIVE-AWAY.

After reading Kathy’s blog about Pig Day, I started thinking about how many times I have created pig related patterns…

“PIG-CASSO”is one of 12 farm animals named after celebrities in the FARMYARD STARS pattern.

After designing the PIG-ABUNGA wall hanging, I had so many requests for that cute pig that it motivated me to create the PIGGY PILLOW.

I also have a pig in my newest book SEW CUTE AND CLEVER FARM AND FOREST ANIMALS.

In honor of National Pig Day, I am giving away 1 free download of my PIGGY PILLOW pattern. All you have to do for a chance to win this download is leave a comment below. The give-away will end next week on Wednesday, March 11.

Linking this week with:

Leprechaun Gnome

February 25, 2020Paper Pieced Blocks, Paper Piecing, quilting, St. Patrick's Dayfoudation piecing, leprechaun, leprechaun block, leprechaun pattern, paper piece patterns, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, St Patricks Daymaryhertel

I just returned from a little Florida get-away with 2 of my siblings.

After a beautiful week of 80 degrees and sunny skies, I returned home to this…

And now it’s back to designing…

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I’ve designed a new Gnome.

The LEPRECHAUN GNOME is a sweet little guy with a nose made from a fabric yoyo. So cute! This newest St. Patty’s block will join my other leprechaun creations:

LUCKY LEPRECHAUN is still one of my favorite St. Patty images. The smoke swirls are very suble, and are created from my free motion quilting.

LEPRECHAUN is another cutie. See even more of my St. Pat’s designs HERE.

Please join me this Saturday at the Winter Quilt Show in West Bend, where I will be vending and lecturing on paper piecing.

Linking this week with:

A “Trunk Full” of Love For You!

February 4, 2020elephant block, free tutorial, Paper pieced Animals, Paper Pieced Blocks, paper pieced heart, Paper Pieced Quilts, Paper Pieced Table Toppers, Paper Piecing, quilt blocks, Quilts with Animals, truck pattern, Valentine's Patternseasy quilts, elephant block, foundation quilting, handmade quilts, paper piece patterns, paper pieced, paper pieced animals, paper pieced pattern, paper pieced quilt patterns, paper pieced quilts, paper piecing, paper piecing patterns, quilt block patterns, quilt blocks, quilt patterns, quilting, quilting patterns, quilts, truck patternmaryhertel

I’m sharing some of my favorite patterns that have HEARTS for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy…

The ENOUGH ELEPHANTS pillow and lap quilt are both included in my pattern. These quirky elephants are so easy to paper piece.

This adorable LOAD OF LOVE dump truck would make a super cute pillow for your truck lovers! Those are buttons on the wheels for easy hubcaps. You know I like to keep things easy.

I love my SCALLOPED HEART PILLOW! Designing all the scallops took some time, and I would recommend this project for an intermediate paper piecer. My fond customer Marilyn created this adorable project that I just have to share…

Thanks so much for visiting today. If you are new to paper piecing, consider watching my FREE tutorials. Just click the Tutorial tab at the top of this page.

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