Guest Posting - Triangle Quilt Tutorial with Winter's Song

Hello, Friends!

I've got something special to show you today,

in a new guest post over at

Bear Creek Quilting Company!

I'll show you how to make this amazing

triangle quilt, using some fat quarters,

a cool ruler, and Triangles on a Roll.

I have to tell you truthfully

that this was one of the quickest quilt tops

I've ever put together,

and it was thoroughly enjoyable to make!

Head on over to see the details...

I'll be back soon to show you the finished quilt.

Guest Blogging - Joyeaux Noel Ornaments

Hello, Friends!

Are you starting to get ready for Christmas?

I have a new quick and easy idea

for some pretty ornaments.

You can find a free tutorial for

Joyeaux Noel ornaments on my guest blog post

at Bear Creek Quilting.

I was captivated when I first saw photos

of French General's latest line of Christmas fabrics,

Joyeaux Noel, months ago.

When I saw them in person, I was even more drawn to them...

the palette is subdued, with an Old World vibe.

The vignettes are charming and varied.

They just call out to be made into something for sharing.

I made up a set of ornaments in no time,

and I plan to make lots more of them soon.

Please stop by to see how they're made.

I hope you'll make some lovely ornaments

this Christmastime.

{In light of the recent attacks in France,

these projects have even more emotional appeal for me.

My heart goes out to those who were lost or injured.}

Welcome - My Final Farm Girl Vintage Block

Hello, Friends!

Today I'm going to wrap up my Farm Girl Vintage series

with the beautiful block called Welcome.

If you have the Farm Girl Vintage book,

you will know that this is not the "last block" in the book.

They are listed in alphabetical order,

and there are a few more blocks after this one.

I decided to make this block last,

because it looked so much easier to construct

than the Winter Star or Wooly Sheep blocks.

I figured I would finish with a quick and easy block.

{Insert uncontrollable giggles here.}

Well...for some reason,

I found this block to be kind of difficult to make.

I enjoyed stitching it, but, when I measured

my finished block, it was about 1/4" too big!!!

I just couldn't cut off those tips and be happy.

I thought and thought about it, but...that would not work for me!

So there was only one thing left to do...

make another block.

This time I paid careful attention to the size

of each unit within the block.

I measured and trimmed,

and I noticed that my piecing was not as good

as I thought, along the way.

There was a bit of crookedness here and there.

Even this time, being soooo careful,

my new block had some seams that didn't line up perfectly.

That's okay...I really loved my new combination

of fabrics, and I learned how to be more precise along the way.

In the end, my new block was just about the perfect size.

Guess what I found,

literally the day after I finished this block!

{You'll never guess...I'll have to tell you.}

I saw a post at Fig Tree Quilts, featuring this awesome,

brilliant, sweet pattern, made up from this same block!

This pattern was being featured as Fig Tree Quilts is bringing back

some of their most popular fabrics, in Strawberry Fields Revisited.

{I.Can't.Wait.}

Star Crossed Pattern by Fig Tree Quilts

I really love the way people create new projects using

genuine vintage-style blocks that have been around

for generations.

The finished block is the same...

but there have been so many creative minds

working to make this block their own way, their own style,

for their own life and family.

That is the appeal that quilting has for me!

Now that I've practiced this lovely block...

no matter what it's called...

I hope to make more of them.

I think I'll make this slightly super-sized one

into one of the Farm Girl Vintage pot holders.

It will be a pleasant way to remember the Farm Girl Vintage sew along.

More Farm Girl Vintage Blocks...Winter Star and Wooly Sheep

The Farm Girl Vintage sew along

is almost finished.

All over blogland, people are posting

their progress and finishing their quilts!

It's been sew exciting, hasn't it?

Today I'm sharing two more of my blocks.

In the true spirit of "nearly finished"

may I present my Wooly Sheep block?

{I have not yet embroidered the skinny little legs.}

I decided to make my lamb grey and white.

I love his sweet little gingham face.

And that little tail is hilarious!

He is just so fluffy and chubby looking!

I am really fond of the grassy green that I used,

one of the last bits of that piece from

Fresh Air, by American Jane.

I think a whole flock of these would be an adorable

baby quilt - for either a boy or a girl.

Counting sheep puts little ones to sleep!

The other block is quite different...

a touch of elegance called Winter Star.

I used the same gray print for the sheep body,

in the inner star points, but it's got a whole new vibe.

I am truly in love with this beauty!

I enjoyed making it, every step of the way.

It was a bit of a challenge to line up

the little pieces just right.

I think the colors are just right for wintertime...

icy blue, frosty white, and cardinal red.

This is definitely one of my favorite blocks

from the book...but when I take them all out to create my quilt,

I'm sure I'll find lots more "favorites" all over again.

Come back soon to see my last Farm Girl Vintage block!

Sunday Morning, Sunny Sunflower, Tumbleweed and Water Turn Blocks - Farm Girl Vintage

Hello, Friends!

We're coming to the conclusion of the 

Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along!

This week the last two blocks are being featured.

I can't believe it, but...I have actually made

every block in the series.

There are a few I haven't shared yet,

but I will eventually post about those, too.

For this edition, allow me to introduce four fun blocks.

{Well, at least three of them were fun.}

First, here's the block named Sunday Morning.

This is such a pretty block.

Never mind that I lost a couple of points in the center somehow.

Sundays are all about relaxation, right?

If this block grew up to be a mug rug,

it would be fun to use this little red cocotte for some oatmeal

on a Sunday morning.

{I just learned that word...cocotte. I'm going to use it at least once a week. 
The word, not the thing.}

The next block might just be the most understated beauty

in the book, in my humble opinion...Sunny Sunflower.

This block was truly a pleasure to make,

and I can really see myself making a bunch of the 12" blocks someday,

for a larger project like a table runner or a quilt.

I really adore this flower...ever since I bought a big bunch

of cut sunflowers for my sister, as a housewarming present.

She was living in New Jersey, 

and I found the sunflowers at a local farm stand. 

They looked fabulous on her new kitchen island, in a simple white pitcher. 

It was a long time ago...maybe 20 years...

before I ever knew about blogging, or I would have had a photo to share.

That's okay...this block reminds me of that day whenever I see it.

Isn't that what a great quilt is all about?

As much as I loved making the sunflower...ahem...

the Tumbleweed block was not so much a joy.

Maybe I was tired, but I found this one a bit tricky.

It turned out fine, but there is a little note in the margin

of my book, reminding me that there are plenty of other

cute blocks that are more fun to construct.

{It actually says, "Not as enjoyable to sew...not sure why."}

I made a note for every block in the book...whether I loved it, liked it, or whatever I thought about making more of them.

The Tumbleweed block came out very nicely...

so I'm glad that's over!

The last block for today's post is called 

Water Turn.

I think this is a new block to me, and it's really pretty.

I kind of wish I had not put red and orange together

in my block, but sometimes it's good to just try a new thing.

I like the "open" feeling of this block,

with lots of background fabric in it.

You get a lot of practice making Flying Geese

for this block. I am growing to love those FG's more and more.

Come back soon for some more Farm Girl Vintage blocks...

only a few more to go!

Oh, My Stars - Simple Star, Spring Star, and Summer Star

OK, I admit it...I'm starstruck!

The Farm Girl Vintage book is filled with magical star blocks.

I've got some new ones to share today.

It's always good to start out simple, right?
The Simple Star is truly a basic block,

but it comes out so differently, depending on the fabrics selected.

For mine, I selected a gray and green palette...

a bit of a modern departure from my other blocks.

I really LOVE the lime green with the gray,

and the tiny dash of red is just right.

Could those wee little strawberries be any sweeter???

The next block is called Spring Star.

This is a new block to me, and I love how complex it appears,

but the construction is very easy.

I liked the palette in the book, so I copied it.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

I bought some new bowls to use in my blog posts as props.

Don't they look pretty with these colorful fabrics?

{They also come in handy keeping my little scraps close at hand.}

After the Spring Star comes, of course, Summer Star.

Something really fun happened, as I was stitching this block.

I use my little mini design boards that I learned to make

from this Lori Holt YouTube video.

Now I know why it's called a "design board"...

I found some alternate block designs that I'll have to try someday!

Here's how the block would look without adding the little white corners

to the outer corner squares.

Oh, I was soooo tempted to leave out 16 tiny pieces!

And here's what it looks like, if the hourglass segments are rotated.

The square surrounding the navy blue center is yellow now.

Interesting...

Enough daydreaming...

I stitched up the block as written, in the end,

and it's as lovely as a summer evening.

Now that I'm down to the last few blocks of the Farm Girl Vintage
sew along, I reverted to my earlier palette of primary colors,
with a pop of navy blue.

I'm glad now that I stuck to the original design for this block,
but someday I'll play around with the alternate ideas.
Come back soon for more sewing inspiration!