Quilty Fun - Courthouse Steps

I'm having more Quilty Fun

than one person ought to be allowed to have!

This week's sew along block is called

Courthouse Steps,

and these are my finished blocks.

A little disclaimer:

I took a whole bunch of pictures of my blocks,

and I want to show them all!

I've given the Quilty Fun book a rave review already,

and this sew along only adds to the long list

of reasons why I love this book so much.

The Courthouse Steps block

is kind of buried deep within the book...

it's just one minor component of a bonus project.

For the Quilty Fun sew along,

this classic little block is brought out to play

with all of the other blocks that were featured

in the original row quilt.

{It deserves a bigger role, don't you think?}

Once a week, making just a couple

of blocks, is a such a fun way to sew along...

and I really appreciate that fact that there is a

Christmas break included!

I hope you'll think about joining the

Quilty Fun sew along,

if you've got the book!

Pin It

Earth Tones and Ricrac - A New Heart Mug Rug

One of my most-viewed posts in this blog

is Be My Valentine,

featuring this heart-shaped mug rug.

I showed that mug rug to my friend Sharon,

and she asked me to make

one for her, using earth tones.

{Here's what happened...}

I pulled out some pretty green and brown prints

from my substantial stash.
I used Modern Meadow from Joel Dewberry,
including several shades of Herringbone prints.

Using a fabulous technique from the Quilty Fun book,
I used 8 different prints to quickly piece together
a patchwork swatch. I backed it with Pellon 987F fusible fleece,
and then quilted it in a crosshatch design.

I really {heart} ricrac...
I chose this milk chocolate brown ricrac
trim to outline the edges.

On the back, I used the focus fabric,
highlighting a beautiful tree.

The little eamylove label shows
I made it just for Sharon.

I think I need to make a Christmas version next.
Now where's my Cherry Christmas bundle?

Pin It

Spring and Summer - Reversible Mug Rug

Do you remember when I showed you

my reversible mug rug,

with one side decorated for Autumn...

and the other side ready for Winter?

Ummm...I bet you also remember that I only

showed one side at a time,

rather than both sides in the same post.

This time I'm going to have mercy...

I'll show both sides today!

Let's get going with Springtime tulips,

featuring yet another block

from the Quilty Fun book by Lori Holt.

I used two of the tulips

without any sashing between them.

I chose some of my favorite Bake Sale prints,

also designed by Lori Holt.

I really love the solid green fabric

for the leaves...very lifelike!

A little bit of quilting around the edges finished

the flowers off sweetly and neatly.

For the Summer side,

I turned to my other go-to designer...

The Patchsmith!

This time I used the Ice Cream Sundae Mug Rug pattern.

Nothing says summertime

like a cold and creamy ice cream sundae, right?

Some fresh fruit tops it all off,

and I really {heart} those red cherries!

My mug rug came out kind of large,

so I added a straw to the sundae...

and now it's more of a SODA!

I live in western Pennsylvania, where a soda has ice cream

and pop, mixed together. 

{Over in eastern PA, where my sister Susie lives,

you don't get any ice cream with your "soda".  It's just plain POP!}

;)

My Cath Kidston mugs look so adorable with both sides,

don't you agree?

I think I'll be making more mug rugs from these designs,

one at a time, some other day...

while I dream of sunny seasons.

Pin It

Quilty Fun Sew Along - Twinkly Star Blocks

Hello, Friends,

and welcome to another week

of the Quilty Fun Sew Along...

featuring the Twinkly Stars Block!

This was a fun block to produce,

and in the end I had this sweet strip of stars.

I cannot stop raving about this book,

with its complete diagrams

and instructions.

Sewing is such a joy,

when you know exactly what you're

supposed to do,

and the blocks end up being just right.

I also love the way the Quilty Fun book has

a neat spiral binding,

that allows me to keep the book

lying flat as I use it.

The Quilty Fun book is only available through

The Fat Quarter Shop,

as it's published under the It's Sew Emma label.

The bulk of the fabrics I'm using

for my project are from Lori Holt'

Bake Sale line,

but I'm mixing in some other favorites, too.

{Mixing in...I crack myself up. See the tiny spatulas?}

I didn't think it was possible to love

these stars as much as I love the apples...

but I do love them both equally!

Stop back soon,

and you'll see a new project I'm making

from yet another block of Quilty Fun!

Pin It

Quilty Fun Sew Along - Apples!

What a coincidence that the same theme

I chose for this month's Across The Pond Sew Along

was the very first block of the 

Quilty Fun Sew Along!

APPLES!

{I had fun making this multi-purpose block!}

Not only is the Quilty Fun book filled with great photos,

but it shows every step of the way

for making fun and fabulous quilty projects.

There are lots of great diagrams and drawings.

You can only buy it at the Fat Quarter Shop,

you know.

The Quilty Fun Blog Tour

lets us use the book to make

a whole new quilt from the same blocks featured in the book!

I wasn't sure I would like my apple core block,

because I wanted to use a pale print,

but my background is white.

I think it turned out just dandy, though,

with the gray print for the inside of the apple.

I'm going to be using lots of prints

from Lori Holt's Bake Sale line for Riley Blake,

but I'll mix in other fun fabrics

from my bright stash, too.

I hope to add a dash of black to each block,

to add some definition and rhythm.

Note the little black stems for the apples.

 This particular block was fun and easy to stitch.

One reason was that I use a cool tool,

called The Angler 2, created by Pam Bono.

This tool eliminates the step

of drawing stitch lines onto

all of those tiny squares!

It's sew easy to use.

{You can even find videos, like this one,

to demonstrate how to use it.}

I'm a little bewildered about joining

yet another sew along with weekly projects,

but one block is sooooo much more doable

than a bag or a quilt in one week.

I'll join in as often as I can with Quilty Fun.

I hope to finish the entire quilt at some point.

It's going to look really cute in my kitchen someday!

I sure hope you'll join along!

Pin It

Apples for Across The Pond - November

It's my turn to choose

this month's theme for the

Across The Pond Sew Along,

hosted by The Patchsmith,

Susie's Sunroom, and myself!

The topic I've selected is...APPLES!

I haven't yet made my own Apple projects for this month,

but I'm ready to give you some

apple inspiration,

to get this party started...

Perhaps I've mentioned how much

I love making pincushions?

I made this one using the awesome pattern from Retromama,

aptly named the Scrappy Apple Pincushion and Ornament.

{Oh, wouldn't this make a lovely ornament?}

Here's a Caramel Apple Casserole Carrier,

made from my own Aunt Ellie's Casserole Carrrier pattern.

I love the golden lining with the rich red apple print.

{Can't you just picture yourself bringing an Apple Dapple Cake to dinner?}

If you've got a copy of "Quilty Fun,"

the new book from Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet,

you'll be able to make some super sweet apples!

{I've got my own copy of this book, and it's a WINNER!}

Photo from Bee In My Bonnet blog

If you love traditional quilts...and who doesn't?...

you'll be drooling over this Apple Core quilt

by Martha Pullen.

And before you get mad at me

for just giving you too many ideas,

I'll close with one more DELICIOUS apple idea...

a free tutorial from the paper piecing genius,

Charise Creates.

Photo from Charise Creates blog

Stop by later this month

and see what Apple-licious fun comes out

from the Across The Pond Sew Along.

Won't you join us?

Pin It