Create experiences that leave you in awe, for these will be the highlights of your life. ~Ryan Blair

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Flower Show Block

JULY...
Here comes the final block in this block of the month series....

This time of year, signals the onset of summer activities; and finally the kids are finished their school year. So what are you going to do with all that time? 

If you're a quilter, there is an endless supply of quilting projects to find online these days; and deciding where to focus your creative energy can be overwhelming. However, if time is of short supply for sewing, why not try this mini block for JULY to signify those special times spent out in the garden!


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If your sewing/quilting time is limited, you can still download this block pattern FREE* during the month of July and save it for making on a rainy day. 

And for more FREE creative blocks, there are:  
BLUE MOON, IS THERE COFFEE?, and OH...LOLLIPOP! 

However, the free offer on these three blocks will soon be disappearing sometime in July. Please visit soon.... to find them; and the rest of the block series.

*
Please do not make copies of these block designs to give to your friends; instead share this page or ask them to go to the website to download their own patterns. :)

For any more instruction to prepare the block, please visit my Craftsy page for the PDF pattern (available usually within a few days of this posting). 


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FABRIC SELECTION

6.) BLUE and PURPLE

I have chosen my blue-purple block to embellish for my sixth (and final) quilt block in this series. This color theme fit well with my chosen theme. 

The stitch that holds the front and batting was done with a leaf design. Now it fits well with the flower appliques that have been used for this month's block.

BLUE-PURPLE BLOCK (Front)
            
BLUE-PURPLE BLOCK (Back)


THE BLOCK - Creative Flowers

Many quilters love using flowers in their quilts; and thus, I have ended up selecting a flower theme for this block. To come up with this design, I looked through my applique scraps for inspiration. I tend to accumulate leftover appliques when designing quilts; and figured it was time to see if any would be useful for this block.

To come up with a name for this block, I thought about how much fun participants have when entering items into a fall fair in their local area for display, and winning ribbons. So if you have any leftovers that would work for this block, add your own creativity to make your own unique block.

So go ahead.... and put together a winning entry for this month's block. Use the pattern as is; or embellish it to suit your own creative style!


THE FINISHED BLOCK

FLOWER SHOW BLOCK

This block may be added to the others and joined into a larger quilt once all my blocks are completed. Or finished as a mini quilt all on its own!

I will select some blocks to show how to join them; and this will be available sometime this summer. It will also be included in the pattern that will contain all of my blocks in this series.


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Enjoy this project... and find the pattern soon at my Craftsy store page, where all applique templates will be included. FLOWER SHOW will be available to download for free for the month of July 2015

Although this means that the previous month's block: Sail Away will no longer be available for free. All templates will be available together in one pattern, once the series has run its course. Each new block will replace the previous one until all blocks have been posted. 


Happy piecing...

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Sailing Away Block

JUNE...
Holiday time is coming... can it really be here!!

That time of year when being active doesn't mean layers and layers of clothing just to keep warm. But now, opportunity to cool off! Water is where many people enjoy their summers, and why not try this block for JUNE to signify those special days.



PLEASE NOTE:
For any more instruction to prepare the block, please visit my Craftsy page for the PDF pattern (available usually within a few days of this posting). These three blocks that will remain free for the duration of this series: BLUE MOON, IS THERE COFFEE?, and OH...LOLLIPOP!



FABRIC SELECTION

5.) BLUES

I have chosen my blue block to embellish for my fifth quilt block in this series. This color theme fits perfectly with the water theme that dominates our summer activities. 

Because we are thinking of water, why not add machine stitching using a wave stitch along the strips. Be careful that you don't stretch the block out of shape.  


BLUE BLOCK - FRONT

BLUE BLOCK - BACK


BLOCK APPLIQUES -- SAILBOAT

Even our scraps can produce a colorful section once selected and sewn together to create this delightful sailboat. Whether your memories are of toy boats from your childhood or real adventures on the ocean, have fun selecting your fabric strips to create this appliqued block.


CONSTRUCTION OF THE APPLIQUE

A.) Instead of using fabric, why not use Rattail satin cord (2mm) to create the mast. Here I've used two pieces cut from a 12" length and stitched separately using a zigzag stitch to fasten each down. 

B.) Before stitching, place the sailboat on the block to place the cord in the proper location. Once it is stitched, replace the sailboat pieces; and fuse and stitch them in place. 

THE MAST

THE FLAG


THE FINISHED BLOCK

SAIL AWAY BLOCK


This block may be added to the others and joined into a larger quilt once all my blocks are completed. That process will be featured soon.


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Enjoy this project... and find the pattern soon at my Craftsy store page, where all applique templates will be included. SAIL AWAY will be available to download for free for the month of June 2015

Although this means that the previous month's block: Outdoor Adventure will no longer be available for free. All templates will be available together in one pattern, once the series has run its course. Each new block will replace the previous one until all blocks have been posted. 


Happy piecing...


Thursday, April 30, 2015

Outdoor Adventure Block

May 2015...Getting there. Spring heading towards summer....

Time to....
     enjoy planning-planting the garden, 
          taking a trip to the lake on the long weekend, 
               or just an outdoor excursion on the weekends through the countryside. 

Anyway, you enjoy this time of year...
     it's time for the next design for
MAY that is inspired by the change of seasonal activities.


PLEASE NOTE:
For any more instruction to prepare the block, please visit my Craftsy page for the PDF pattern (available usually within a few days of this posting). The three other blocks that will remain free for the duration of this series are:
BLUE MOON, IS THERE COFFEE?, and OH...LOLLIPOP!


FABRIC SELECTION

4.) ORANGES

I have chosen my light orange block to embellish for my fourth quilt block in this series. This color theme works fine with this applique design. Not really very much color in the outdoors, yet the grass is greening up; and the planning of the gardening season is underway. 

FRONT OF BLOCK
BACK OF BLOCK

These blocks can be made from scrap fabrics and scrap batting pieces. Making these blocks economical and easy to construct; and perhaps giving you opportunity to learn some new skills in the process.


BLOCK APPLIQUES

A) SIMPLE TREES
These triangles are easy to make if you begin with a square; and then cut each square into two triangles. For the top three triangles use a 4" square; and for the bottom triangle use a 3.5" square. 

Cut these out of fabric or create a more colorful triangle by using pieced strings. If using strings you can first cut squares out of paper to find the size necessary for the triangle shapes. 

TREES

B) THE TENT
The tent can be made from existing scraps or cut from pieced strips constructed from the fabric colors you select. Add fancy or decorative stitching to the tent to embellish it, if desired. The flag and flag pole are cut from scraps.


TENT

My block posted here will not be finished with a binding, as I wish to consider combining several of these blocks into a larger project, that I will share once all my blocks have been stitched. 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Block


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Enjoy this project... and find the pattern soon at my Craftsy store page, where all applique templates will be included. OUTDOOR ADVENTURE will be available to download for free for the month of May 2015

Although this means that the previous month's block: Country Cabin will no longer be available for free. All templates will be available together in one pattern, once the series has run its course. Each new block will replace the previous one until all blocks have been posted. 


Happy piecing...