A Sweet Heart for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

If you've been reading my blog

since last year, you may remember

seeing my Valentine Ricrac Mug Rugs.

{These little sweet hearts have been really popular on Pinterest!}

The quilted hearts with ricrac are some of my favorite items

I've ever sewn...

In this post, I shared a new heart in rustic tones,

made with Modern Meadow fabrics from Joel Dewberry.

Now I've created a new version,

using some of my precious Paris Flea Market fabrics,

from the first release.

{I think these prints were my first real fabric "crush".}

I love the sunny yellow colorway...

it's so cheery, even in the heart of winter.

I spent some time creating a patchwork of tiny squares.

Then I quilted a fine crosshatch throughout.

It's more heavily quilted than the ones I made last year.

For the back, I chose a lovely script print,

also in golden yellow.

{For reasons I will never understand, the text prints were not re-released

with the other fabrics from the Paris Flea Market line.}

I KNOW you're going to ask me where I get my labels...

I found mine HERE on Etsy.

{Someday I promise to do an entire post about those little labels.}

I hope you'll find time to enjoy this special day with someone you love!

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Easter Bunny Tracks in the Snow

Hippity, hoppity,

Easter's on its way!

But first, a little snowfall whitened the ground

here in western Pennsylvania,

not far from where Punxsutawney Phil made his faulty

prediction for an early spring.

I found some tracks in the snow this morning,

clearly made by bunnies!

I've always loved bunnies,

so a few years ago I made a whole bunch of them,

when I designed my

Multiplying Rabbits quilt!

{Yes, it's time again to show a quilt I made a long time ago, before my blog was born.}

The fabrics I used are from the first complete line

that I ever fell head-over-heels for,

Paris Flea Market by 3 Sisters for Moda.

{I still love it that much, and it's been re-released!}

I can't draw to save my life,

but I somehow created a bunny silhouette

that I really love.

I put cottontails on each one,

to show they have their backs to us...

because they're so shy.

Some of the bunnies are facing the same direction...

and others are mirror images.

{I think they're in love!}

They won't run away...
the picket fence keeps them safe and warm inside my house.

I'm pretty proud of my quilting,
done on my home machine.

I did a ton of stippling,
right over the machine appliqued rabbits.
For the borders, I used
Golden Threads quilting paper
and traced a continuous floral design onto the border.

{After washing, the quilt is soooo soft, crinkly and snuggly.}

I love bringing this quilt out every Easter...

But I'm pretty sure this is the first time
I've brought it out in the snow for Easter!

Whatever the weather in your area,
I wish you all a very Happy Easter,
filled with joy and blessings!

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Love of Learning

Let's take a few minutes to enjoy a cup of tea

or coffee or cocoa

while we talk stitching!

Next month will mark a year since I began

my blog, but I've been sewing and quilting

much longer than one year.

On my blog I have opportunities to share

some things I've sewn recently,

and I like to fold in some "extras" now and then,

featuring projects that were made several years ago!

Today I'm showing a small wall hanging

I made when I took a class from Sue Nickels way back in 2007.

The course lasted two or three days, with the first day or two being spent

learning machine applique from the queen of applique herself.

I would describe Sue's signature style

as bright and energized, featuring saturated tones.

Check out the Beatles Quilt made by Sue and her sister Pat Holly,

and you will see what I mean.

For my class project, I used mostly soft pinks and greens,

pulling prints from my beloved 3 Sisters fabrics

including "Paris Flea Market" - the original release - and "Gingham Rose".

{I was really stretching my boundaries with the darker rose color!}

There were tonal prints, tiny florals, some paisley and even a woven plaid.

The ivory background is hard to see here, but it was a text print,

with subtle cursive writing in a pale tan.

When we learned to quilt the feathers, I was in heaven.  

I still enjoy making that design the most whenever I am machine quilting.

I remember so much of what I learned in the class,

and Sue is one of the best teachers I've ever met...

smart, vibrant, friendly and supportive.

{I bonded with her as soon as she took her shoe off for sewing!}

I chose to use invisible thread

for quilting, so that the texture mimics that of

hand-quilting, without interrupting the fabric design.

This is one of my most loved little quilts I've ever made.

It isn't exactly modern or trendy, but I love it dearly.

I would like to report that my husband chose

a place where my little quilt can be prominently displayed

all year round in our little house...but...not so much.

He lets me bring it out for Valentine's Day, though.

<3

It's such a funny thing...

just the other day I was reading Julie's blog, The Crafty Quilter, 

and she is beginning a new series about Applique.

She showed the Sue Nickels teaching project 

on her site, and I recognized it instantly.

I'll be checking out Julie's posts

to see what else I can learn in the world of applique!

Thanks for stopping by...come back soon!

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