Pattern Launch: Be My Valentine Heart Mug Rug

Any Pinterest fans out there???

Me, too!

One of my most popular posts

has been spreading like wildfire on Pinterest.

Maybe you've seen this Be My Valentine Mug Rug.

I figured a lot of people would like to make their own

versions of these sweet hearts,

so I wrote a tutorial-style pattern with lots of photos and tips.

It's now available in my shop on Etsy called eamylove for only $3.00,

as an instant download.

Believe it or not, I first made these mug rugs in 2013.

Since then, I've created many more of these

adorable quilted hearts, edged in ric rac.

You can find them here...

and here...

and here...in my blog.

Oh, there will definitely be more in upcoming posts.

I have sew much fun creating these!!!

If you make them, too, I hope you will send me pictures!

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A Favorite Christmas Present

Hello, Friends,

and Happy New Year!!!

I wish each of you a very healthy

and prosperous 2016.

I never make official resolutions for the new year...

but I do hope to do more blogging in the coming year.

It's exciting to wonder what lies ahead,

and I hope to have lots of new projects to share with you.

For my first blog post of 2016,

I'm going to share one of my favorite Christmas presents

that I received, from my sister Susie.

Susie chose to create a Deluxe Pincushion for me,

from the book called

Sew Organized for the Busy Sewer,

by Heidi Staples.

I adore the little prints of Miss Kate,

featured in the patchwork square.

The quilting adds texture and durability.

This lime green print looks fantastic with it,

for the background and backing.

{Isn't the label adorable???}

I've got a lime green pair of scissors

that fits inside the little pocket.

The Clover Wonder Clips come in handy

for so many tasks. 

{And they're just so cute, too!}

That fabric tape has such sweet pictures,

and the words make me smile.

{Perhaps there was something lost in the translation...

they don't make sense to me, but that's why I find them irresistible.}

I won't be afraid to use this little pincushion.

I want to keep it near me for inspiration,

while I sew and smile.

Susie has been busy making lots of these pinnies.

Visit her blog at Susie's Sunroom

to see all kinds of good stuff!

Every Deluxe Pincushion I've ever seen

has been charming, but THIS one...

stole my heart!

I'm so glad it's mine!

Have you received a special handmade gift for Christmas, too?

Please comment about it below, and feel free to

include a link if you shared it on a blog post, Flickr, Instagram, etc.

I hope to see you often in 2016!

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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.

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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.}

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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.

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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!

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